Automatic mold protector for type casting machines



Oct. 13, 1936. J. M. DENT 2,057,420

AUTOMATIC MOLD PROTECTOR FOR TYPE CASTING MACHINES Filed June 3, 1935 2 Sheets-Sheet 1 INVENTOR w James M, Hemt ATTORNEY AUTOMATIC MOLD PROTECTOR FOR TYPE CASTING MACHINES Filed June 3, 1935 2 SheetsSheet 2 "1111111111111!!! "1,110, 01,. gull.

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INVENTOR James M. Dent Patented Oct. 13, 1936 PATENT OFFICE AUTOMATIC MOLD PROTECTOR FUR TYPE CASTING MACHINES James M. Dent, Cleveland, Ohio, assignor to Composing Room Engineers, Inc., Cleveland, Ohio, a corporation of Ohio Application June 3, 1935, Serial No. 24,688 5 Claims. (01. 199-52) The present invention relates to a device for I preventing injury to the molds, liners and the casting ejector devices of a type casting machine, by preventing operation of the casting ejector *5 when the ejecting elementsare not properly positioned with-respect to the mold.

In typecasting'machines an ejector is commonly used which consists of a series of narrow superimposed blades, any number of which may be 11) connected to the ejector actuating mechanism to provide an ejector plunger which corresponds in width to the length of the mold slot and pushes out the slug or casting without damaging the casting or the walls of the mold. An adjustable ejector blade selector device is employed by means of which any desired number of ejector blades may be disconnected from the ejector operating mechanism. It sometimes happens, however,

that the operator fails to adjust the ejector blade 2 selector lever to the proper position upon insertion of a different mold liner or an improper change in adjustment may escape the notice of the operator, in which event the operation of the ejector may damage both themold liner and the ejector blades 15, and also the casting.

This invention has for its object to provide a device to prevent the operation of the ejector in the event that the blade selector is improperly positioned, thereby preventing injury to the mold l and enabling the operator while the machine is stopped to properly set the ejector blade selector for the particular mold which is being used.

A further object of the invention is to provide automatic mold protector which can be applied 155 to a linotype machine without any alteration whatever to the; mechanism of the machine, which does not require any adjustment of the parts of the machine, and which does not impair the operation of any of the parts of the machine. I

A further object is to provide a mold protector comprising a small number of inexpensive parts which can be quickly and easily attached to a typecasting machine.

With the above and other objects in view the invention may besaid to comprise a device as illustrated in the accompanying drawings, hereinafter' described and particularly set forth in the appended claims, together with such variations and modifications thereof as will'be apparem out to one skilled in the art to which the invention appertains;

Reference should be had to the accompanying drawings forming a part of this specification, in

which:

35 Figure 1 is a perspective view showingthe device of the present invention, the mold disk, and other parts of a'type casting machine with which the device of the present invention coacts;

Fig. 2 is a: fragmentary front elevation of a portion of the mold disk and the selective trip 5 actuating device "at 6- 6 of Fig. 4;

Figfi'Z is a sectional view showing the connection between the operating bar and the upper end of the trip plate lever.

As shown in the accompanying drawings, the device'of the present invention is applied to a type casting machine having a mold disk I in the form of a gear wheel which carries one or more molds 2 mounted'in slots in the web of the disk. The mold disk usually has four mold receiving slots. Molds may be mounted in as many of the slots as desired. In the drawings four molds are shown. Each mold consists of a body portion 3, a keeper 4 which is provided with a groove 5 to receive the lugs of the matrices which are fed to the mold disk in rows so as to close one side of the mold slot and form the type at one edge of a slug cast in the slot. The mold also has a cap 6 and liners I and 8 which are interposed between the ends of the cap and keeper to determine the width and thickness of the mold cavity. The left hand liners! differ in thickness but are always of the same width, while the right hand liners 8 correspond in thickness to the liners I but vary in width, the width of the liner 8 determining the length of the mold cavity. 7

In the operation of the machine the matrices are assembled in rows of a length corresponding to the length of the mold cavity and a row of matrices is fed into place-on the outer side of the mold during the interval between the ejection of a slug or casting from the mold and the injection of molten metal into the mold.'

As well understood in the art, a series of distributing and transfer devices are employed for feeding the matrices up to and transferring them 50 to the mold. Axial and rotative movements are imparted to the mold disk at intervals during :theoperation of the machine, and these motions are timed with the motions of the matrix transferring devices, the molten metal injector, and

the casting ejector. The cycle of operation is performed by means of a series of cams mounted side by side on a shaft and driven from a suitable source of power through a clutch mechanism which is operated so as to impart a complete revolution to the cam shaft and to disconnect the camshaft after the revolution is completed, the one revolution of the camshaft performing the entire cycle of operation from the feeding of matrices to a mold to the ejection of a casting from the mold.

As herein shown, power is derived from a suitable pulley 9 which may be driven by a belt from a suitable line shaft. The pulley 9 is mounted on a shaft II] from which the camshaft is driven, one cam l I being shown herein, the pulley 9 being connected to the shaft ID by a clutch 12. The cam I l is the line delivery cam which carries a stopping pawl which operates the clutch l2 to release the pulley 9 from the shaft l upon the completion of the revolution of the camshaft and a safety pawl which operates the clutch upon failure of certain of the matrix transfer devices.

The clutch i2 is actuated by a shifter lever 13 which may be operated manually by means not shown and which may also be operated automatically through levers actuated by a pawl on the cam I l. The lower, automatic stop lever I4 which engages with the shifter lever l3 has a projecting portion I 5 intermediate its ends which is connected by a pivot IE to a vertical post IT. 'The upper automatic stop lever I8 is attached at its inner end by a pivot [9 to the post I! and has a substantially horizontal upper edge portion which may be engaged by a stop pawl on the cam. The lever l8 also has a downwardly proje'cting'arm 2| which carries a set screw 22 which is engageable with the upper end of the lower lever l4. By adjustment of the screw 22 the extent of movement of the lever necessary to disengage theyclutch may be regulated. On the cam ll there is mounted a stopping pawl 23 which is so controlled as to engage with the lever l8 only in the event .there is a failure of the matrix transfer devices which would interfere with the proper delivery of matrices to the mold. Pawl 23 is pivoted to swing laterally from a position in alignment with the lever Hi to a position laterally of the lever I8 in which the pawl will pass the lever I8 without engaging it. When the matrix transfer mechanism is functioning normally, pawl 23 is held laterally of the lever l8 so that it will pass the lever I8 without engaging it as shown in Fig. 5 of the drawings, it being held in this position by means not shown which is controlled by the matrix :feeding mechanism. t a So far 'as the present invention is concerned, it may be assumed that the pawl 23 has a path of movement to .one side of the lever 18.

Referring to Fig. l of the drawings, molten metal is injected into the mold when the mold is in, its uppermost horizontal position, and after the metal is injected into the mold a rotary movementis imparted to the mold which brings'the mold into a vertical positionat the right hand .side of the mold in alignment with the ejector blade 24. A sumcient numberxof blades 24 are 0 provided to form an ejector plunger of a width corresponding to the maximum width of the casting slot. A selective mechanism is provided for disengaging, as many of. the blades 24 as desired from the ejector actuating mechanism so that all of the blades which are aligned with the liner frame 28 of the machine.

8 are rendered inoperative and only the blades which are in alignment with the mold aperture are advanced upon actuation of the ejector.

The operation of the blades is controlled by a selector operating lever 25 which is adjusted by the operator in a proper position for the particular length of slug or casting being formed in the mold. An indicator bar 26 is attached to the selector operating lever 25 and the upper end of the bar 26 is provided with numbered graduations which are visible through an aperture 21 in the The numbers on the indicator bar 26 correspond to the numbers of the liners 8 which are employed, so that the operator can readily adjust the selector operating lever to the proper position for the particular liner employed in the mold.

The mechanism so far described is well known in the art, being the mechanism employed in type casting machines of the type most commonly used, the parts of the type casting machine described being those with which the device of the present invention cooperates.

The device of the present invention is. a selectivelyoperated trip device which controlled by the adjustment of the ejector blade selector and which is actuated whenthere is an improper adjustment of the selector to cause actuation of the clutch lever by the stopping pawl 23. On the frame 28 there is mounted a lever 30. which is pivoted intermediate its end to a bracket 3 li fixed to the frame. The pivotal axis of the lever 30 is substantially parallel with the axis of the, mold disk I and, the lever is positioned. outwardly of the periphery of the disk. The outerend of the lever is connected by a link 32,;with the indicator bar 26, link 32 being connected by apivot 33. to the outer endofthe lever and extendingdownwardly and inwardly to a pivot 34 connecting it to the bar 26. At its inner end the lever 3t has an arm 35 extending downwardly toward the periphery of'the disk] and this arm is provided with an elongated slot 36. The lower end of the slot 36 provides a support for an operating rod 31 which is disposed substantially parallel with. the axis of th'e'disk and extends across the periphery of the disk. At its outer end the rod 31 has a downturned end providing afinger 38 which overlies the margin of the disk I. At one end of the mold on the mold disk which is-beingused there is mounteda selector plate 39 which'is so'positioned With'respect to the mold that it will be brought to a position behind the downturned finger 38 of the operating rod 3! when the mold is brought to ejecting position. .slot 40 to receive an attaching screw 4| for securing the plate to the face'of the disk, and at its outer edge is .provided'with a flange dl which has a notch43 ofa width to receive the finger 38 of the'trip' operating rod." f

- Asmany different selectorplates 39'are provided as there are liners 8 and are numbered'to correspond to the numbers on 'the liners, the

proper selector plate being attached to the disk whenever a mold is placed on the disk. The link connection between thelever 30 and the indicator bar 26'imparts an adjustment to the-operating -rod 31 upon each adjustment of-the selector operating lever 25 moving the r'o'd 31'. to a different position of adjustment with respect to themold disk upon each adjustment of 'the lever 251" .The notches in the selector plates'39 are so positioned that when the selector operating lever 25 islpropv Each selector. plate 39 is provided with a erly positioned the finger 38 will be in alignment #5 mold is in, alignment withtheQe'jector. Prior to the operation of the ejector the mold disk is given 'anaxial forward movement. Ifthe ejector selec- .t'ol'l lever is positioned properly, the finger 3B enters the notch in the plate 39 andjthe trip operating rod 31 is not actuated, However, if the ejector bladeselector is improperly positioned the finger,,38 will not enter the notch but will be engaged by the flange 42 of the plate and an end- Wise outward movement will be imparted to the rod 31.

The rod 31 has a threaded connection with an extension which has a slot at its inner end which receives .the ball end 436 of a lever 41. Lever 41 is mounted in a substantially upright positionand'has a substantially horizontal portion adjacent its upper end which isjournaled in a .bearing carriedby a bracket 48 secured to the frame of the machine A spring-49 is attached at its outer end to the extension 44 of the trip operating rodgandat its inner end to the lever 41 adjacent its upper end. The tension of the spring 49 tends to decrease the angle between the rod 44 and the lever 4'5 drawing the rod 31 inwardly and holding the lever 4'! in the inclined position shown in dotted lines in Fig. 4. At its lower end the lever ll hasa sleeve extension 50 in which is slidably mounted a rod which has a slot 52 to receive a pin 53 which holds the rod 5| against turning movement in the sleeve. The rod 5! is slidably mounted in the sleeveand is free to move up and down. Attached to the lower end of the rod 5| is a plate 54 which projects laterally from the rod 5! and rests upon the top edge of the stopping lever IS. The plate54 extends across the top edge 20 of the lever l8 and sufiiciently past the same to intersect the path of the stopping pawl 23.

In the normal position of the lever 41, shown in dotted lines in Fig. 4, the plate 54 is positioned beyond the end of the pawl 23 and permits the pawl 23 to'pass the stopping lever. If, however, the blade selecting lever should be improperly positioned, the forward movement of the mold disk prior to the slug ejecting operation will cause the trip operating rod 31 to be moved forwardly, swinging the lever 4! to a vertical position and moving the plate 54 to the outer end portion of the upper face 20 of the lever [8; In this position the plate 54 is in the path of the pawl 23 and engagement of the pawl 23 with the plate 54 will cause actuation of the lever l8 and operation of the clutch shifting lever l3 through the lower stopping lever l 4.

The device of the present invention may be attached toa type casting machine without any alteration of any part of the machine and withmold protector trip'mechanism of the present invention.

It will be apparent that the present invention provides a very simple and effective means of preventing the stripping of mold liners due to improper adjustment of the ejector bladeiselector.

, Furthermore, it is to be understood that the particularform of apparatus shown and described, and the particular procedure set forth,

are presented for purposes of explanation and illustration and that various modifications of said apparatus and procedure can be made without departing from my invention as defined in the appended claims.

What I claim is:

l. The combination with the movable mold carrier, the casting ejector mechanism and the adjustable ejector blade selector of a type casting machine, of a trip device having a movable element positioned adjacent the mold carrier, an angularly movable support for said movable element, means for connecting said support to said adjustable blade selector to adjust the support and movable element to a different position with respect to the carrier for each adjustment of the blade selector, a selective trip actuator mounted on the mold carrier having trip actuating portions spaced apart a distance such as to permit passage of said movable element in one of its adjusted positions and impart a movement thereto during a movement of the carrier if the blade selector is in any position other than a predetermined positicn, and means controlled by said trip device for preventing operation of the casting ejector.

2. The combination with the rotatable and axially movable mold disk, the casting ejector mechanism, and the adjustable ejector .blade selector of a type casting machine, of a lever connected to said blade selector for actuation thereby and having an arm adjacent the periphery of the mold disk, an operating rod slidably supported by said arm and having a finger ad jacent the periphery of the mold disk, a selective actuating member carried by the mold disk having finger engaging portions spaced apart a distance such as to permit passage of the finger in one of its adjusted positions only and engageable with said finger upon an axial movement of the mold disk if the finger is in any position except a predetermined adjusted position, and means operated by said rod upon actuation thereof to prevent actuation of the casting ejector.

3. In combination with the mold disk and the operating mechanism for the mold disk and associated mechanisms of a type casting machine, a stop lever, means controlled by the lever for stopping the machine, a stop pawl carried by a movable part of said machine, said pawl being movable from a position in which it is engageable with said lever to a non-engaging position in which it passes to one side of said lever, a trip member slidable on said lever and projecting laterally therefrom, and means for moving said trip member on the lever into and out of the path of the pawl when the pawl is in its non-engaging position whereby to actuate said lever and stop the machine comprising an operating device connected to said lever and having a finger adjacent the mold disk which is adjust-able to a number of different positions relative to the mold disk, and a selective adjusting member attached to the mold disk which is formed to straddle and pass said adjustable finger in one predetermined adjusted position thereof only, and to engage said finger and operate said device if the finger is in any position other than the predetermined adjusted position.

4. In a type casting machine having a rotatable and axially movable mold disk, a casting ejector mechanism, an adjustable ejector blade selector, a clutch controlled operating mechanism, and means including a trip lever for disengaging the clutch to stop the machine, an automatic mold protector comprising a plate slidable on said trip lever into and out of the path of a part of said machine which moves in the direction in which the trip lever moves to disengage the clutch, means for normally holding said plate in an inoperative position clear of said moving part, and means for actuating said plate comprising an operating member connected to the ejector blade selector for adjustment simultaneously therewith and a selective actuating member carried by the mold disk, said operating member being operatively connected to said plate and having a part adjacent the mold disk with which said actuating member engages upon an axial movement of the mold disk if the operating memher is in any position other than a predetermined adjusted position, said actuating member being formed to straddle and pass said operating memher without engagement when said actuating member is in the said predetermined position and to engage and shift said operating member if it i is not in the said predetermined position.

5. In a type casting machine having a clutch controlled operating mechanism, a trip lever for disengaging the clutch provided with substantially horizontal top face and a stopping pawl which is normally positioned laterally of the lever to pass the same, an auxiliary trip device comprising a plate slidably mounted on the top face of said lever, said plate projecting laterally into the plane of movement of said pawl and being movable on the lever into and out of the path of the pawl, a rod fixed to the plate, a lever telescopically engaging the rod, and means for actuating said lever to move the plate into the path of said pawl.

JAMES M. DENT. 

